RNC's Priebus leaning toward 2nd run

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus will make an announcement next week about whether he’ll seek another term, but he’s leaning toward launching a second campaign at the helm, sources told POLITICO.

Questions about Priebus’s intentions come as the party starts to look inward after a shellacking at the ballot box in the presidential race, and in a wide swath of Senate contests last Tuesday.

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Priebus is weighing his options and his preferences, and will make his desires known at some point next week, ahead of the Thanksgiving holidays. But he’s leaning toward running again for a seat he wrested from onetime ally Michael Steele back in January 2011, a senior Republican official said.

Despite the GOP’s deep losses on Tuesday, and off-the-record grumbling about Priebus and the future direction of the party from some Republicans, there is no apparent challenger in sight, according to multiple party sources.

And Priebus, who has spent months tending to committee member maintenance, remains the favorite if he seeks another term.

The next benchmark in the GOP’s attempt to recover from 2012 will be the chairman’s race, which will be settled in January. The RNC chairman terms are two years, meaning if he were reelected, Priebus would serve at the helm of the committee during the far less glamorous and low-profile 2014 midterm contests.

Henry Barbour, who helped his uncle Haley Barbour run for RNC chairman in the 1990s, said he is personally a fan of Priebus and believes he’s done a good job — a sentiment others echoed.

“I would say that Reince has been probably one of the most popular and well-liked and well-admired chairmen at the RNC in recent years,” said Bruce Ash, a committee member from Arizona. “He has enjoyed great confidence from our members. He certainly has my confidence and if Reince was to decide that he wanted to run again for RNC chairman, I think that he could certainly count on my support.”

He added, “I’ve spoken with him and encouraged him to seriously consider running again. Obviously, I’ve told him he needs to talk with his wife. She needs to approve this. … I would hope that even in spite of the defeat we had the other night, people wouldn’t lose sight of the fact that we really are a rejuvenated RNC under his leadership.”

Bill Armistead, the Alabama GOP chairman, said he has not heard of anyone else who’s thinking of making a run of it in January.

“I would certainly urge [Priebus] to run again. I think he’s done a magnificent job,” he said. “He’s been one of the greatest leaders we’ve ever had at the RNC. He has not only been a great leader for the rest of us, but has done a fabulous job of fundraising.”

I hope Priebus runs again. It will ensure the Dems. control of the House in 2014. He didn't deliver the Romney/Ryan ticket for Wi. his home state, or Mass for Romney. I think he was just a puppet for the big money machine. (Koch Bros. K.Rove etal.) The GOP needs some on with more forward thinking, to include more minorities and middle class people. The GOP is the party that only cares about the rich, and it showed in the past election. GOP look out side the bubble and find someone with a better vision than the hack Reince Priebus. Good luck in the mid-terms.

This guy needs to get back to his usual job as a Clown, big red nose and all, and big floppy shoes, he needs to climb back into that little clown car, with the rest of those GOP tea party BOZO`S.

As long as he continues to be the chairman of the party the democrats have nothing to worry about, this clown is the best reason for the democrats to continue to win election after election for the foreseeable future and beyond.

I can't thank Reince enough for helping re elect Obama. His fabulous imitation of an 18th century fop uttering disdainful remarks about the common man were as effective at rallying the voters as trying to suppress them.

His first term was so successful His Republicant's lost the presidency in a landslide 332-206 His Republican'ts lost 5% of it;s Senate seats His Republican'ts lost 1% of it's House seats Republican'ts lost Rebus' home state of Wisconsin His Republican't agenda was totally rejected by the American voters

Why wouldn't someone with such a "stellar" record not be wanted to run the Republican't Party again?

I know I just lost a billions dollars, several senates seats and all but one contested state in the presidential election... and I know that I have presided over many candidates who have yet to graduate from the 18th century and got creamed in their states... and I know the brand that I lead is the laughing stock of the nation, but I think I should continue because... well... we are the party of lunatics' right?